Golden State Warriors rout Portland Trail Blazers

OAKLAND -- Whatever concerns the Warriors had about expelling a three-day-old bad taste in their mouths ended when Stephen Curry hit his first shot. Then his second and third.

Curry scored 39 points, and Golden State bounced back from one of its most disappointing losses of the season with a 125-98 rout of Portland on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 19,596 at Oracle Arena.

"We are witnessing one of the great shooters that have ever played this game," coach Mark Jackson said of Curry, who had his most prolific scoring game since erupting for an NBA season-best 54 points against the New York Knicks on Feb. 27.

The Warriors also got help from their bench, led by Carl Landry, who scored a season-high 25 points and sparked a 23-6 first-half run after the teams virtually traded baskets the first 10 minutes.

After losing Wednesday at home to Sacramento -- owner of the NBA's worst road record -- Golden State recovered to maintain its game-and-a-half lead over Houston for the sixth spot in the Western Conference. Bidding for their first playoff spot since 2007, the Warriors trimmed their magic number to five to clinch a postseason berth.

Curry, who shot 5 for 18 against the Kings, made all five of his first-quarter attempts against Portland, three of them from 3-point range.

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"Nice to see the ball go in after how rough it was against Sacramento," Curry said. "This is huge. Everybody played well. This is a big win for us considering what happened last game."

Jackson wasn't surprised by Curry's bounce-back performance.

"He's been great for us all season long, but he is on the floor like he is the baddest dude in the building," Jackson said. "He's playing with a chip, an edge, with a belief and with a swag that the great ones played with."

Teammate David Lee said watching Curry perform never gets old.

"We have confidence he can have nights like that," Lee said, "but it's still unbelievable to be out there when he gets in a groove like that."

Curry finished 14 for 22, including 7 of 12 from behind the arc.

The Blazers hung around until late in the third quarter when Curry scored on a scoop shot, then drilled a 3-pointer in transition, pushing the lead to 90-70.

The night was less successful for Oakland native and Blazers rookie point guard Damian Lillard, who returned to Oracle two months after lighting up the Warriors for a career-high 37 points.

Lillard had 16 points and eight assists but shot just 4 for 11. Portland, out of the playoff chase, played without star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

His absence allowed Landry to muscle up inside for Golden State. Landry scored 11 straight Warriors points during one stretch spanning the first two quarters, finishing with a 9-for-10 shooting night and 10 rebounds.

"He gave us scoring punch, he rebounded, he defended, he battled, and he played with great force," Jackson said. "When he plays like that, we are a different team."

Lillard tied Curry's NBA rookie record for 3-point baskets when he hit his 166th with 3:38 left in the first quarter. He never got No. 167.

The former Oakland High and Weber State star called his Jan. 11 NBA visit to Oracle "one of the most unforgettable times in my life," even in defeat.

The fastest rookie to reach 1,200 points and 400 assists since Allen Iverson in 1996-97, Lillard has been so good, Jackson said, "They should give him the Rookie of the Year award before the season ends."

Warriors guard Klay Thompson followed his 1-for-13 shooting performance against Sacramento by making 1 of 6.

Brandon Rush, who tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in the second game of the season Nov. 2, was in town for the first time since then to be part of the annual team photo. He's living in New York City and said rehab is going well. Rush said doctors tell him he should be ready by the start of training camp next season. He said he's on schedule to start light running in about three weeks.